The therapy of rhythmic movement to music moves oneself to connect with the harmony of self to the external world. In fact, it paves the way for an internal/ external ‘bandwith’ to happen, bringing even communicative self-expression to the experience, much like a poem, or story spoken with muscle, bone, and conscious/ unconscious movement. Often times, the dancing practitioner finds that their flow of movement has a correlation with their emotional state of being and that this status can be affected through the cyclical consistency of the dancing.
Herein, exists the beginning of the therapeutic understandings of ‘movement therapy.’ The actual benefits are complex, profound, and so intricately layered-that without the allowance of the experiential wherewithal of a teacher in the matter, the deeper matters of verbalizing how this rhythmic movement to music heals from the inside out, is lost on the everyday practitioner in word, though not in the intuitive awareness of what they practice.
In my Rhythm and Movement classes to adults with developmental disability, youth on the autism spectrum, and senior citizens, both ‘typical’ and with cognitive delays, I find that demeanors are softened, motivation for life is ignited, and an increase in peacefulness with self is approached. The inner life workings of a person become ‘electrified,’ in so much that eyes widen, and arms, legs and torso approximate greater expansive positions. Each step in this direction leads onto an opening of the persons capacity for self-expression and at some point, they begin to realize a self-awareness that begets them to know themselves as creative, innovative, relaxed, confident, and a powerful sense that they are ‘on.’
This level of awareness is very dynamic, becoming a mindset and attitudinal perspective, much like a platform or corrective lens through which to experience life. To reach such a level can be done quickly, yet, for people with severe emotional complications, bias, preconceptions, entrenched negative or unnerving attitudes, the road to such a wherewithal is walked at a slower pace. Notwithstanding, the reaping of the benefits for people in such inner life condition are most keenly seen and experienced by the consistent dancer and those around such a one.
Long-term meditation practice serves a similar array of benefits to a person, albeit, through the route of silence, breathing and usually, the absence of movement. So it is that the quality of life increases for those who ‘dance,’ and continued new levels of intuitive awareness can be effectuated (follow me here closely) creating a mode of production that is powerful enough to begin changing the world around one. Yes. Like a pebble in a pond, consistent mediative dancing movement, when shared with the world, has the power to inspire others, motivate beyond oneself, create thought and reflection in others, and lead to new rhythmic patterns of life for those who witness the positive disruptive nature that is emanating from the meditative dancing practitioner, or in layman’s terms, the ’story dancer.’
Their are some caveats attached to the extent that such rhythmic meditative movement can render external change in others beyond oneself: the choice selection in music reaches different people, the manner and professionalism in one’s physical dancing expressions (the kind of story that is being expressed) speaks to some, and not to others, the ability for the practitioner to harmonize movement to music, the current societal setting of what is happening locally, nationally, and globally, and the current emotional intelligence capability of the practitioner has a direct effect on their ability to storify in such manner that hearts and minds can be shifted, even if slightly.
As it pertains to the more basic benefits of providing basic empowerment to youth, adults, and senior citizens with and without special needs, or even those with special gifts and talents, movement therapy is an excellent, innovative modality that effectuates newfound emotional calmness, mental clarity, increased physical stamina, better blood pressure regulation, enhanced physical flexibility, stronger core-muscle strength, and a new pathway for self-healing through the art medium of dancing. It so is, that movement therapy, changes the story of the consistent practitioner then. Special Educators, dance teachers, parents and educational public school systems will initially find that the deployment of such a modality will be challenging and difficult to realize. Such a practice is unique for each practitioner and patience is required to move through the initial stages of getting people to dance. Quite easily, a class of students will respond again and again to commercially-successful songs that introduce the element of ‘fun’ into a movement therapy group class, and the inexperienced teacher loses control of the direction and desired curriculum pathway of the class. Like meditation, the movement therapy professional Educator has to balance such demand with the implied focuses of the meditative therapy. After every one to two songs, for example, I take a moment to share a teaching story or flesh out nuance of the benefits and practicing goals of what we are doing, thus, I bring the attention of my students back into closer alignment with the focus of the class, therein employing them as movement therapy coaches-in-training, complete with a growing respect for the therapeutic and meditative aspects of the story dance.
At times, I may work with a women who is over 100 years of age, and all she can manage is a careful slow step as I safely hold her arms and help her gently sway for 60 seconds. This is enough to bring about tremendous inner benefit to her heart and mind, providing a modicum of toning to her functional balance in the hips, thighs, calves, ankles. Often times, I dance with people in wheel chairs with varied ability of limited movement. The simple human effect of having someone touch their shoulder or hold their hands as they are moved with grace can motivate those who have not left their chairs to stand up. Hope is ignited, and a new-found joy for life, however momentary it may seem to be, is brought into heart.
The compounding effect of movement therapy is how it transforms people from the inside out, and how it eventually affects one’s environment and daily life decisions. It is practical to undertake, rapid in delivering its layered emotional, mental (executive function), and physical benefits, and fun to practice.
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